Bio-One of Marion County decontamination and biohazard cleaning services

Biohazard Cleanup vs. Regular Cleaning: What's the Difference?

Biohazard Cleanup

Introduction

Cleanliness is essential for maintaining a safe and healthy environment, whether at home, in the workplace, or in any public space. However, not all cleaning tasks are created equal. There's a distinct difference between regular cleaning and biohazard cleanup; understanding this difference is crucial for ensuring the safety and well-being of individuals in various settings.

Regular Cleaning: Maintenance for Everyday Living

Regular cleaning refers to the routine maintenance of spaces to keep them neat, organized, and free from dirt and clutter. This type of cleaning is part of our daily lives, involving tasks such as dusting, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, and wiping surfaces. Regular cleaning is aimed at maintaining appearances, preventing the buildup of dirt and grime, and improving the overall aesthetic of a space. We do it to keep our living and working areas comfortable and visually appealing.

Biohazard Cleanup: Dealing with Dangerous Contaminants

On the other hand, biohazard cleanup goes far beyond the surface-level tidying associated with regular cleaning. Biohazards are biological materials that threaten human health, such as blood, bodily fluids, medical waste, and other potentially infectious substances. Biohazard cleanup involves the removal, cleaning, and disposal of these hazardous materials in a safe and regulated manner. This type of cleanup is necessary after traumatic events, accidents, crime scenes, industrial accidents, or in places where contamination from pathogens is suspected.

Key Differences: Biohazard Cleanup vs. Regular Cleaning

  1. Safety Concerns: The primary difference between biohazard cleanup and regular cleaning is the level of safety concerns involved. Regular cleaning focuses on making spaces look tidy, while biohazard cleanup centers on preventing the spread of infectious diseases and maintaining the health of individuals who may come into contact with the contaminants.
  2. Equipment and Training: Biohazard cleanup requires specialized training, equipment, and protective gear to ensure the safety of those performing the cleanup. Professionals in this field, like Bio-One of Marion County, are trained to handle potentially dangerous materials, use disinfectants effectively, and follow strict protocols to avoid cross-contamination. Regular cleaning typically involves basic cleaning tools and does not require the same level of specialized knowledge.
  3. Regulations and Compliance: Biohazard cleanup must adhere to strict regulations and guidelines set by health and safety authorities. There are legal requirements for handling and disposing of biohazardous materials properly. Regular cleaning does not have the same stringent regulations associated with it.
  4. Severity of Contamination: Biohazard cleanup addresses situations where the risk of contamination is high due to bloodborne pathogens, bacteria, viruses, and other harmful agents. Regular cleaning deals with everyday dirt and debris that do not pose the same health risks.
  5. Psychological Impact: Biohazard cleanup often involves emotionally distressing situations like crime scenes or accidents. Professionals in this field must be equipped to handle the psychological toll of these scenarios. Regular cleaning typically does not involve such emotional challenges.

Conclusion

In summary, the difference between biohazard cleanup and regular cleaning lies in the level of risk, specialized training, and equipment required. While regular cleaning is essential for maintaining a comfortable and appealing environment, biohazard cleanup is critical for preventing the spread of diseases and ensuring the safety of individuals in spaces contaminated by hazardous materials. Understanding these differences is vital for making informed decisions when it comes to addressing cleaning needs in various settings.

Bio-One of Marion County is a locally owned and operated biohazard and hoarding cleaning company serving Indianapolis and surrounding areas. We specialize in blood, bodily fluid, feces removal, rodent droppings, sewage cleanup, hoarding, pet hoarding, gross filth cleanup, tear gas remediation, and odor removal services. Helping people facing difficult situations get their surroundings and lives back in order is our #1 priority. 

Bio-One is here to help you 24/7, 365 days a year!  Call (317) 499-0614, and you'll speak directly to one of us when you call; there is never an answering service.  We'll treat you like a person with the compassion and respect that you deserve. 

Most homeowners' insurance policies cover the cleaning and decontamination of biohazard contaminants and damage resulting from a suicide, unattended death, crime, accident, medical emergency, and infectious disease.  In addition, the policy likely covers any repairs or replacement of structural elements (flooring, carpet and pad, baseboards, drywall) that must be removed as part of the remediation process. When a claim is first opened, the situation and details must be explained in a manner that helps to ensure coverage.   How the situation is explained to the claims representative can impact whether or not you are covered and how much is covered and mitigates delay in cleaning your home or property.

Bio-One Marion County has filed many claims on behalf of its clients. It can help you file a claim with your insurance company, guide you through the process and be your advocate to ensure that your insurance company provides all that you are entitled to based on your policy.

What if You Haven't Found the Homeowner's Insurance Policy?


Bio-One Marion County understands that the policy information is often not readily available or needs to be found inside the home after the cleanup is completed. If a loved one has passed in their home, we can help you find and recover the policy information as part of our cleanup efforts.

It is important not to delay the biohazard remediation and to avoid further damage to your property and emotional well-being. Bio-One Marion County is here to help, and we want you to be physically and emotionally safe; thus, the biohazard cleanup should be done without delay.

The Claim Process

  1. Bio-One Marion County will schedule with you a time and day to inspect and remediate the scene where the death or accident occurred.
  2. Bio-One Marion County will take the necessary photos and measurements to document the scene before, during, and after the biohazard remediation process. 
  3. Bio-One Marion County will collect the homeowner's insurance policy information necessary to file a claim on your behalf.  We will need the insurance company's name, the insured's name, and the policy number.
  4. Bio-One Marion County will call the insurance company's national claim line and provide detailed information to the claim handler so you don't have to. The claim handler will open a claim and, in most cases, provide us with a claim number and the assigned adjuster's name and contact information.  To protect our client's emotional well-being by not having to relive the details of the situation, we ask the adjuster to contact us directly so we can explain the situation in detail and the work that was done and discuss the next steps for any work that still needs to be done to remediate odor, cross contamination or repairs.
  5. Once the adjuster and Bio-One have spoken, the adjuster will contact you to verify the claim, get additional information, if necessary, and then discuss coverage with you.
  6. Once the job is complete, Bio-One will submit the documentation, a properly formatted invoice, a report, and photographs to the adjuster.  We inform the adjuster what repairs, if any, must be made to the structure. 
  7. The adjuster may call you to schedule an appointment so a field adjuster can visit the property to inspect and take measurements for funding the repair and replacement of covered items and structures.
  8. The insurance company will mail you a check for less than the deductible or send Bio-One Marion County a check directly for our portion of the claim, and we will invoice you for the deductible.

Bio-One Marion County has your best interest in mind when filing a claim and dealing with the assigned adjuster. How the case is presented, and the documents submitted are essential to helping to ensure that the only out-of-pocket expense is deductible.

Please note that most biohazard claims are covered; however, all policies are different, and coverage varies based on the type of policy and named peril exclusions. Deductibles typically vary between $250-$2,500 but could be higher depending on the policy. Not all insurance companies will permit third parties to file a claim on behalf of the insured. In those few cases, we will file the claim alongside you, guide the process for you, and do our best to shield you from reliving the details.

Bio-One of Marion County is a locally owned and operated biohazard and hoarding cleaning company serving Indianapolis and surrounding areas. We specialize in blood, bodily fluid, and feces removal, rodent droppings cleaning, sewage cleanup, hoarding and pet hoarding cleaning, gross filth cleanup, and odor removal services. Helping people who are faced with difficult situations to get their surroundings and lives back in order is our #1 priority. 

Bio-One is here to help you 24/7, 365 days a year!  Call (317) 499-0614, and you'll speak directly to one of us when you call; there is never an answering service.  We'll treat you like a person with the compassion and respect that you deserve. 


Bio-One What to Ask Before Hiring a Crime Scene Cleaner

The roots of crime- and trauma-scene cleaning companies can be traced to the 1990s, and at that time only a dozen or so companies existed. The industry was widely unregulated and awareness of contamination risks were relatively non-existant.

"I was young and dumb and saw something you only see in movies, so I quickly shut the door, took a deep breath, sat on the couch with the widow and told everyone else to get her out of here and take her to lunch, and we’ll clean this up for her," said Nick-Anthony Zamucen, Founder of Bio-One Inc. "We were just trying to help a lady in her greatest time of need, and that’s for me how I got into the crime scene and cleaning business."  Read Nick's story in Franchise Times

Today, there are hundreds of companies that advertise crime and trauma scene cleaning, and a simple Google search may prove overwhelming when you're experiencing one of the most traumatic moments in your life. To help, we've listed pre-qualifying questions to ask before choosing a crime and trauma scene company. 

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Crime and Trauma Scene Cleaner

There are a number of key questions to ask crime and trauma scene cleaning technicians or business owners to properly root out which one is best for your goals and circumstances. 

  • Are you local? When there's a blood spill, response time is key to prevent biohazards from spreading and to ensure quick remediation. Several businesses may pay for online advertising in your city, but their technicians could be 3 or more hours away. Furthermore, avoid calling toll free numbers. "These numbers often lead to call centers. We're local. They're not," said Ginger Akemon, owner of Bio-One in Jacksonville, FL
  • Is your business certified and insured? Professional crime and trauma scene cleaning companies should have bloodborne pathogen certifications, they should follow OSHA personal protective equipment (PPE) guidelines and remediation processes, and they should have insurance for their business. 
  • What is your process for disposing biohazardous waste? Once the remediation is complete, the accumulated waste will need to be disposed in accordance to local state guidelines. Make sure the business owner or technician is aware of these guidelines and has an appropriate plan for disposal.  
  • What happens to valuable or personal items that are impacted? At Bio-One, we are trained to be mindful of valuable and perceived valuable items, such as pictures, wallets, or a baseball card collection. Professional crime and trauma scene cleaners should ask if there are valuable items to keep an eye out for, and they will keep the family informed if these items are found. 
  • How will you charge for your services? In most cases, home insurance will cover the cost of biohazard remediation - less your deductible. Ask if they can open a claim on your behalf, taking this burden off your shoulders. If you don't have homeowners insurance, it's OK to ask for a free estimate so you can compare costs between other local companies. 
  • Will you be discrete during and after the job? Michele Amoranto, Bio-One owner in Oceanside, CA, always assures her clients that discretion is top of mind while her team is onsite. Bio-One vehicles are unmarked and technicians will designate work areas to don and doff PPE out of view from neighbors. 
  • Do you have a list of resources that can help after the cleanup? You may need flooring replaced or fresh drywall installed, which will also be covered under your home insurance claim, and a recommendation could help speed up the reconstruction process. Additionally, many crime and trauma scene cleaners have connections with local counselors and victim's advocates. In west Texas, Bio-One owner, Garrett Spooner, always offers a list of free mental health resources and states that, "Being volunteers of our local Crisis Intervention Unit, we consider our job incomplete without making sure our clients' mental health, grief process, and other issues our clients may have, are addressed."

Last but certainly most important, make sure the business you speak with shows care and compassion for your situation. They should want to do everything possible to support you and your loved ones.

If you are searching for a crime and trauma scene cleaner, Bio-One is here for you. All of our offices adhere to our business motto Help First, Business Second and are available 24/7. Click here to search for a Bio-One team near you.


Bio-One Weekly Wrap-Up Week 7 Thin Gold Line Help First Business Second

Bio-One teams across the U.S. answer calls to help their communities and remediate a variety of scenes. In our new blog series, we'd like to bring you into the Bio-One world by sharing stories of the unique and important work we do for local communities.

Here is Week 7 of our Bio-One Weekly Wrap-Up. 

Thank You to the Thin Gold Line

The second week of April is a time to celebrate and thank telecommunications professionals who dedicate their lives to serving the public. Often called the thin gold line, 911 dispatchers are true heroes behind the scenes

Coast to coast, Bio-One teams found fun and unique ways to recognize the Thin Gold Line. 

Bio-One Helps Homeless Man with Vehicle Clean Up

This week, News San Diego reported "Homeless man's story inspires San Diego mom to enlist community's help", featuring Rene Flohr and Nicki Chipp-Flohr, owners of Bio-One. The Bio-One duo spotted a NextDoor post asking for anyone who could help 79 year-old, Les, who had been living out of his vehicle and was recently diagnosed with skin cancer. His vehicle was floor to ceiling full of items, and Bio-One was ready to help clean and disinfect the vehicle so it could be sold or donated. 

In a message to Bio-One owners, Nicki said, "I am very proud of what we are doing to help someone. I thought you’d all appreciate it, since we live the Bio-One motto of #helpfirstbusinesssecond." We couldn't agree more! 

Read the entire story on News San Diego. 

A "Week in the Life" at Bio-One

The Bio-One team in Tuscon, AZ had a busy week with work ranging from COVID-19 disinfections, mold remediations, bird dropping clean up, medical waste disposal, suicide remediation, and more. 

If you've ever wondered what it takes to be a crime and trauma scene cleaner, we recommend read through the Tuscon team's Weekly Wrap-Up! 

Crime and Trauma Scene Cleaners at Bio-One

Bio-One Weekly Wrap-Up Week 6 Crime and Trauma Scene Cleaning COVID-19 Disinfection

Bio-One teams across the U.S. answer calls to help their communities and remediate a variety of scenes. In our new blog series, we'd like to bring you into the Bio-One world by sharing stories of the unique and important work we do for local communities.

Here is Week 6 of our Bio-One Weekly Wrap-Up. 

Cherokee County Biohazard Remediation 

Lives in the Atlanta area were forever altered on Tuesday, March 16, 2021 after a shooting spree at three metro Atlanta spas left eight people, including six Asian women, dead within the span of 45 minutes. 

Our hearts and sympathies are with everyone impacted by this tragedy.  

Two weeks after the tragic events in Atlanta took place, Bio-One answered the call to remediate the spa in Cherokee County. Led by Michele O'Brien and Rebecca Phillips, the Bio-One team provided a quick response and thorough decontamination. Read more in our recent blog post. 

Bio-One Cherokee County Massage Parlor Biohazard Remediation

Tragedy in Rock Hill, South Carolina

As details from the tragedy in Rock Hill, South Carolina unfold, one Bio-One team paid special tribute to the victims, first responders and other local law enforcement officials. Bio-One owners, John and Jen Symons, live in Rock Hill and experienced the police response first-hand. "It's a tight-knit community. We just can't believe it," said Jen Symons. 

Their team is currently in communication with local law enforcement, and activity supporting neighbors through this difficult time. 

COVID-19 Disinfection at Dojo

This week, we're spotlighting the Atlantic City team where they are regularly disinfecting Ganguly's Mixed Martial Arts. According to Bio-One owner, Victor Russomanno, "We are contracted with a local martial arts studio to disinfect them weekly. In addition to their in-house protocol, we use an electrostatic sprayer to ensure maximum coverage and protection, to ensure those who are training are staying safe through our efforts."

Across the United States, Bio-One teams actively disinfect local businesses, government buildings, and residents in the fight against coronavirus. Learn more about our COVID-19 disinfection process. 

Mirror Review published the article "Nick-Anthony Zamucen - A Game-Changer in the Restoration Industry" and we couldn't be prouder! Over the past 15 years, Nick has established a Pizzeria Chain franchise, a home care franchise, a bio-recovery franchise, and BOR. All of which are stories of success!

If you're considering stepping into the Bio-One family, here are our top 5 favorite Nick-Anthony Zamucen quotes from this article and how they relate to owning a Bio-One franchise. 

1.  “They’ve gone through enough, let’s go in there and end their day better than it started.”

This is a core mentality of the Bio-One motto Help First, Business Second. Crime scene cleaning is an industry where you know you are making a positive difference in people’s lives, and you will have the opportunity to help people in their greatest time of need. It's as close to being a hero on a day-to-day basis as you can get. 

2. “One of the greatest enjoyments of business is interrupting the ‘status quo’ in set industries." 

Over twenty years ago, the 'status quo' in crime and trauma scene cleaning was DIY. But after first-hand experience, Nick knew it was time for things to change.

Nick encountered a fellow church member who recently lost her husband after he had sadly taken his own life. After police had finished their inspection, she was left with the traumatizing aftermath from the suicide that occurred. With the mindset of helping a community member in need, Nick visited the home with the church minister and helped clean the biohazard. Soon after, Nick realized similar situations are unfortunately faced by countless individuals throughout the country and world, and with the simple idea of helping others, Bio-One was born. 

Fast forward to today, Bio-One Inc. is still paving the way in this industry. In 2021, Bio-One was named number one in crime scene cleaning and trauma scene cleaning in Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 list. Why? Our experienced training and support team will help you launch and build your franchise business. Bio-One has developed the necessary referral networks, created top tier marketing plans, and established vendor relationships to increase your profitability.

3. “You don’t have to wear every hat and figure out every detail by yourself. When you buy a franchise, you are buying into a success strategy, a road map, and a proven game plan." 

One of the benefits of buying into a franchise is that you can be in business for yourself, but not by yourself. Once you begin your Bio-One business, there is a robust training and support program, systems and tools. We begin with our initial franchise training at our headquarters, and ongoing training classes are hosted throughout the year via live webinars and conference calls.

4. “This is fun and business is challenging, but how fun would it be if it were easy? I live to win and compete. I don’t live my life aiming for the second prize. It’s first or nothing…that’s what keeps me motivated."

In order to expect your new business to be a success, prepare to work. You can't just throw a bunch of seeds into the wind and expect a high yield crop. You have to be willing to put in effort from sun up to sun down to get where you want to go. 

Bio-One provides the training and game plan, but the fun begins when you push yourself to execute all you've learned. You will have an incredible support system behind you, but you are the key to your own success. Once you buy a Bio-One franchise, prepare to work like never before. And prepare to be rewarded like never before. 

5. “We teach life skills and business ownership. There is no one size fits all plan for everything, because everyone is uniquely different and needs different things.”

Supporting franchise owners is the backbone of our success. We recognize that Bio-One owners have unique skill sets and business backgrounds. Whether you're a retired police officer, military service member, marketing professional, or data analyst - there's a place for you. 

If you answer "Yes" to any of these questions, Bio-One is a good fit for you!

  • Do you want to build a business that can change your life? 
  • Do you want to be in business for yourself, but not by yourself? 
  • Do you want to own an exciting company where no two days are the same?  
  • Do you want to have the satisfied feeling that comes from helping others while keeping your community safe?

Join The Bio-One Crime Scene Cleaning Franchise Team!

303-625-6543

Bio-One Inc. ranked in Entrepreneur magazine’s 42nd Annual Franchise 500 at #241 for its outstanding performance in areas including unit growth, financial strength and stability, and brand power. This is the fifth year in a row that Bio-One has been included in the ranking.

Succeeding 11 years of franchising, Bio-One provides service in recovery and suicide cleanup, homicide cleanup, hoarding situations, junk removal, deceased animal recovery, feces removal, pest and rodent droppings and much more. The number of Bio-One franchises have increased 145 percent in the last three years with over 100 locations in 41 states.

“We’re honored to be recognized by Entrepreneur,” said Nick-Anthony Zamucen, CEO of Bio-One Inc. “The ranking is a direct reflection of our Bio-One family, strength of our business model, and our ability to consistently deliver care and compassion to our clients.” 

The key factors that go into the evaluation include costs and fees, size and growth, support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability. Each franchise is given a cumulative score based on an analysis of more than 150 data points, and the 500 franchises with the highest cumulative scores become the Franchise 500® in ranking order.   

“2020 was a challenging year for everyone, but it was also a year of unusual opportunity,” says Jason Feifer, Entrepreneur editor-in-chief. “Franchises were able to be nimble and innovative, serving the needs of franchisees and customers in ways that will resonate for many years to come. We believe that, when we eventually look back on this time, we’ll see it as a moment when many brands defined themselves for the future.”

Over its 42 years in existence, the Franchise 500® has become both a dominant competitive measure for franchisors and a primary research tool for potential franchisees. Bio-One’s position on the ranking is a testament to its strength as a franchise opportunity. 

About Bio-One Inc. 

Bio-One Inc. is the first crime and trauma scene cleaning franchise, operating in 41 states with over 100 locations. Bio-One is committed to providing excellent service in recovery and suicide cleanup, homicide cleanup, hoarding situations, junk removal, deceased animal recovery, feces removal, pest and rodent droppings and much more. Each office is independently owned and operated by a member of the local community. For more information about Bio-One, visit us at bioonemarioncounty.com and follow us on Facebook and Twitter

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